Economic development experts are available to help businesses deal with the impact of the coronavirus.
Economic development experts are available to help businesses deal with the impact of the coronavirus.
Staffers from the Office of Innovation and Economic Development department at Southern Illinois University are lending their expertise to Carbondale businesses in the battle against the coronavirus.
According to the Southern, staff members from the university have made themselves available to help businesses deal with the lingering impact of the virus, offering both telephone and virtual conferencing. In addition, free informational webinars are being held to help businesses, particularly small business owners.
“The COVID-19 virus has had a major impact on the operation and future of many businesses in Southern Illinois but we are here to help businesses navigate through these uncertain times,” Greg Bouhl, director entrepreneurship and business development for SIU, told the Southern.
Bouhl said he and others were advising business owners about the growing number of state and federal funding still being made available, some of which doesn’t have to be paid back.
Recently, one session was specifically dedicated to helping small business owners impacted by the pandemic, with topics including Economic Injury Disaster Loan, Small Business Debt Relief Program and Illinois Treasurer COVID-19 Relief Program.
“Demand is super high, but we are here to help, whether it’s finding funding to stay open, start a business or help existing businesses,” Bouhl told the Southern.
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